Tray-machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sht 1.

W. ROBERTS,

I TRAY MACHINE.

No. 369,078; Patented Aug. 30, 1887.

n ravens. Pholo-Lllhoguphar. Wuhi c.

5 ShetS-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

w. ROBERTS.

TRAY MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 80, 1887.

I No. 369,073.

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5 SheetsSheet 3.

N6 Model.)

W. ROBERTS. TBA-Y MLA-GHINE.

Patented Aug. 30, 1 887.

' (No Model.) 5 Shpets8heet 4..

W. ROBERTS.

TRAY MACHINE.-

No. 369,078. PatentedAug; 30, 1887;

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(NoModeL) I w. ROBERTS.

TRAY MACHINE. No.369,078. PatentedAlig. so. 1887.

N. PE'IEIIS, Phulvuthugnphar, Wahinglm D. C.

UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

\VEBSTER ROBERTS, OF CLEVELAND, ASSIGNOB TO THE ORUME & SEFTONMANUFACTURING 00., OF DAYTON, OHIO.

TRAY-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,078, dated August30, 1887.

Application filed January 2, 1885.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, WVEBsTER ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tray-Machines, of whichthe following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tray-machines of that classwhich bend and form the previously scored and cut blanks by the means ofdies which at the time of bending overlap the ends and bring them intoposition to receive the fastening-staples, which are likewise made,driven, and clinched by the same machine.

My object is to render the machine more efficient-,and at the same timeto lessen the complication of its parts; and the novelty consists in thecombinations of elements employed, the construction of the parts, andtheir arrangement, all as will be herewith set forth and specificallyclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a front elevation ofthe machine. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a sectional end elevation through. theline at x of Fig. 1. 2, is an end elevation of the machine. Fig. 4,Sheet 3, is a sectional front elevation of the upper part of the machinethrough the line '11 y of Fig. 2. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a plan view of themachine in section through the line 2 z of Fig. 1. Fig. 6, Sheet 4, is asectional plan view of one of the staple forming and driving mechanismsthrough the line 1 l of Fig. 4. Fig. 7, Sheet 4, is a sectional planview of the same through the line 2 2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8, Sheet 4, is anend elevation of the wire-feeding clutch mechanism. Fig. 9, Sheet 4, isa corresponding view with the plate removed. Fig. 10, Sheet 4,represents the blank as out and scored previous to being placed in themachine. Fig. 11, Sheet 4, represents the finished tray. Fig. 12 is atransverse section,

representing in detail the construction of the male die,clincher-anvils, and operating de- Vices. Fig. 13 is a side view of saidmale die,

I as will be presently explained.

Fig. 3, Sheet Serial No. 151,749. (No model.)

looking at the side on which the actuating devices are located.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts inall the figures.

The frame of the machine may consist of a base, A, sides B B, andcross-head or crown O, as shown; or it-may be of any suitableconstruction.

Secured upon the base A,half-way between the Walls B B, is a verticalsocket or guide, D, in which is confined, but free to travel up anddown, the shank E, carrying at its top the male tray-forming die F, ofthe shape shown. Directly over this die F is the female trayforming dieG, attached to or forming part of a pendent support, H, whose upper endis secured to the head-pieceO. Extend- 6 ing at right angles from andsecured to the ends of the female die G are guide-sockets I, whose lowerends open into and communicate with the interior of the female die G.Within these sockets the staple forming and 1 driving mechanisms areconfined and operate,

Suitably journaled in pillows J is a litirizontal shaft, K, extendingthrough an opening in the wall B and driven by power in any suitablemanner. The inner end of this shaft has keyed upon it a disk, L, towhich is secured, near its periphery, a stud carrying ajfrictiouroller,a, which is confined in the horizontal slot of a cam-piece or lifter, M,which is rig- 8o idly fastened to the shank E, thus constituting a camarrangement, which causes the vertical reciprocation of the shank andmale die as the shaft is revolved. Also keyed upon the shaft K, justoutside of the wall B, is a cam wiper-wheel, N, which engages with thependent stud b of a crank-arm, c, keyed upon the lower end of a verticalshaft, 0, which is j ournaled in brackets 1?, secured upon the outerside of the wall B, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. 0 To cause the stud b toconstantly engage with the cam-surface of the wiper-wheel, I employ anysuitable spring, d-in this instance a spiral spring connected at one endto a stud or pin projecting-from the crank-arm c, and at 5 the other endto the wall B, as seen in Fig. 3.

It is evident that the wiper-wheel might have an annularcam-groove intowhich the stud upon the crank-arm would constantly fit, so as to give apositive oscillation of the shaft 0 in both directions, and therebydispense with the spring, or a counter-weight, which might be employedin place of a spring.

To the upper end of the shaft 0 is keyed a horizontal arm, R, carryingadditional horizontal supporting-fingers, e, rectangular incross-section,between and uponwhich are supported the tray-blanks thatare thereby fed into the machine, one at a time, by the reciproeatingvibration of the arm R. The location of the arm R and fingers e is suchas to carry the tray-blank close and directly under the female die. Therelative arrangement of the parts is such that when the male die is atits lowest point the arm R begins to swing in just as the male diebegins to ascend, and the travel of the parts is such that thetray-blank will be properly disposed under the female die just beforethe male die reaches the under side of the tray-blank to carry it upwithin the female die. Also keyed upon the shaft K, just within the wallB, is an eccentric disk, S, around which is fitted an eye or loop uponthe lower end of a pitman-arm, T, whose upper end is pivoted to a slide,U, secured and traveling upon waysf, attached to the inner side of thewall B. The opposite wall 13 is also provided with a correspondingslide, U, anda simultaneous vertical reciprocationisimparted to bothslides from the pitman T by the followmeans: Jonrnaled in brackets Vupon the headpiece 0 is a rock-shaft, V, with projecting arms g at eachend. Each of these arms 9 is connected by a pivoted link, 71, passingdown through openings in the crown-pieee O to the slides U, so that asthe one slide receives its vertical reciprocating movement directly fromthe pitman T a similar and simultaneous reciprocatin g movement iscommunicated to the opposite slide U through the links it, arms 5 androck-shaft XV.

Each of the slides U is provided upon each of its sides with slottedbrackets A, whose slots are of the shapeshown more particularly in Figs.1 and at. Confined within these slots are frietion-rollers t, journaledupon the ends of a cross hcad j. Attached to the cross-head are twoparallel metal plungers, is, which, as seen in Figs. 4, 6, and 7, arefitted so as to travel within the sockets I, and are caused toreciprocate by the slots in the brackets A acting upon thecross-headjthrough the medium of the friction-rollers i. Fitted betweenthe plungers k is an independently-operated sliding driving-tongue, Z,whose lower end travels between springcompressed jaw-blocks m, supportedin jaws or guides a, secured within the sockets I. These j aw-blocks areprovided with ledges or shoulders 0 at their outer sides, which towardtheir middle are beveled off to form a tapering or wedge-shapedreecss,which causes the driver in its descent to open the jaws to permitthe finished staple to pass between them into the driving-throat, andthey are held together by any suitable springs, 12 q.

Upon the front side of each of the sockets I is pivoted at 7, Figs. (5and 7, an arm, 8, having a perforated head or die, t, at its lower end,which extends through an opening in the side wall of the socket, and isheld compressed by a spiral spring, at, confined in any suitable housingand bearing against the arm. Extending from the inner side of the arm 8is a stud or pin, c, which passes through a'perforation in the side wallof the socket and bears against an inclined surface or groove in theadjacent plunger 75.

Suitably secured to the front side of the female die is a frame, 13,provided with lugs, in which are journaled a lower shaft, 0, havingkeyed upon its ends annular grooved rollers D and an upper shaft, E,upon which are keyed ribbed rollers F, whose ribs fit into the groove oftherollers D, and which pairs together form the staple-wire feeders.

The journal-blocks of the shaft E are preferably free to slidevertically, and are held down to insure the proper feeding of the wirebetween the rollers by means of a cross-spring, G, and tension-adjusting screw H, as seen in Fig. l. The location of the wire-feedingrollers is such as to direct the wire R in a straight line into andthrough the perforations in the heads t. Upon the outer end of the uppershaft, E, is keyed a flanged disk, 1, within the recess of which andfitted loosely upon the shaft E is a disk, J, having an inclined camnotch or depression on its periphery to receive a small clamping-roller,K. Covering the disk J is a plate, L, secured by a screw or other meansto the disk J, and carrying a projecting stud or pin, which fits andtravels in a curved slot, M, formed in a vertically-adjustablebracket-platc, N, secured to the adjacent slide U.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the adjustment of thebracketplate N is secured by having the bolts N located permanently onthe side of the slideU extend through vertically-elongated slots N", andbe clamped in position therein by means of the nuts N" engaging saidbolts. The arrangement of the parts is such that at the commencement ofthe upward stroke of the male die the shaft E, through the medium of theroller K, acting as a binding-clutch, will cause the staple-wire to befed in through the heads t and between the jaw-blocks just behind theirledges or shonl ders 0 by the revolution of the shaft E. The returnupward stroke of the slide U will mercl y retract the plate L and disk Jwithout turning back the shaft E, as will be readily nnderstood. Bymeans of the vertical adjust ment of the slotted plate N the extent ofthe rotation of the shaft E can be regulated so as to insure the feedingin of the exact amount of wire necessary to form the staples.

O is the usual gravitating folder-rod, free to move up anddown in thesupport H and provided with the fingers P at its lower end.

.are bent down to form staples around the seams a driven, and clinchedis as follows: As before stated, the wire is fed in through the dieheadst, whose inner ends are rounded to form a cutting-surface, and extendsacross between the j aw-blocks m, which are at this time closed.Directly after the wire is fed in the plungers k begin their descent,the heads t are thrown slightly out by the inclined grooves acting onthe studs 2), the wire is cut off by the plungers adjacent to the headst acting against the rounded ends of said die-heads t, and its endsedges of the jaw-blocks m, which are still closed. Just at this momentthe drivers Zreceive their forward impulse from the wiperblocks S,secured to the slides U, and, moving down, bear upon the backs of thestaples and open the jaw-blocks m, to permit the passage of the staplesinto the throats T T, through which they are forced, and are driventhrough the lapped ends of the tray and are clinched by anvils confinedand working in the male die, as will be presently explained. The driversZ are provided with studs U, which, upon the retraction of the plungersby the upward strokes of the slides U, are caught by the crossheads j,and thus the drivers are retracted with the plungers. The jawblocks areagain closed by the springs p g, fresh wire is fed in, and the operationof bending and driving is repeated.

To clinch the staples I provide anvil-blocks U, which slide betweenguides V, recessed in the ends of the male die, and whose inner upperends are inclined, as seen at a, to receive the points of the staplesand to bend them inward sufficiently to be caught and clinched by theascending anvilblocks. These blocks are provided on their outer sideswith pins b, which pass through inclined slots cin plates d, attached tothe die by bolts or screws 6, passed through horizontal slots f, so thatupon sliding the plates horizontally the anvilblocks will be forced upto clinch the staples. This motion is imparted to the plates (1 by meansof bell-cranks 9 upon a shaft, h, journaled through the shank E, andhaving their upper ends forked or slotted to engage pins 6 upon theplates d. An arm, j, extends from one of these bell-cranks down throughan opening in the lifting-cam M, whose slot is curved upward, as seen atthis point; so as to receive theimpact of the rollera, whichlifts itand-operates the anvilswithout further lifting the die F. Either of thebell-cranks is provided with a projecting stud, which, when the male diedescends, strikes against any stop or projection Z upon the socket D, tocause the retraction of the bell-cranks, the lowering of the arm j, andthe retraction of the anvil-blocks. The

arm j is connected to the bell-crank g by adjusting-nuts at, so as toraise and lower it to cause a greater or less action of the anvilblocksand a consequent tighter or looser clinching of the staples.

By means of the vibration in and out of the die-headstand the adjustmentof the parts the wearing of the cutting-plunger by frictional contact isprevented.

Having thus fully described my invention, Iclaim 1. In a tray-machine,the combination of a stationary female die, a horizontal blank-feedingarm, devices, substantially as described, for horizontally vibratingsaid arm to throw it with its blank beneath the female die, socketslocated at each side of the female die, wirefeeding devices,substantially as described, for passing the wire into each socket, aplunger for shearing and bending said wire into astaple, a slide fordriving it, and a verticallymovable male die, reciprocating anvil-blocksmovable relatively on said male die for clinching the staples, anddevices, substantially as described, for elevating said male die, as andfor the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with stationary female and movable male dies, ofsockets I, located at each side of said female die, spring-jaw blockslocated in each socket and shouldered to form stops, a feeding andshearing head movable on the side of each socket, a plunger and slide ineach socket for respectively bending the wire and opening thespring-jaws to project the staple, and devices, substantially asdescribed, for actuating said plunger and slide, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination, with the male die, of anvil-blocks carried'therebyand having projections, plates d, located on said die and havinginclined slots to receive said projections, and devices, substantiallyas described, for elevating said male die and horizontally moving theplates to reciprocate the an vilblocks, substantially as set forth.

4.. In a tray-machine, the combination, with the shaft K and pitman-armT, operated thereby, of the slides U, and the staple forming and drivingmechanism,substantially as described, operated thereby, said slidesbeing connected to each other so as to operate simultaneously by meansof the rock-shaft \V, arms 9, and links it, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

5. The combination, in a tray-machine, of the male and female dies andvibrating blankholder, the wire-feeding-clutch mechanism consisting ofthe feed-shaft E, flanged disk 1', disk J, clamping-roller K, plate L,and slotted reciprocating bracketplate N, and means, substantially asdescribed, for varying or adjusting the moving position of said bracket,as and for the purpose specified.

6. In an automatic tray-machine, the staple forming and drivingmechanism consisting of a stationary socket with a guiding-throat, con-IIO 75, driver 6, jaw-blocks m, springs p q, arms 8, (lie 1, and socketI, substantially as specified.

\VE ESTER ROBERTS.

\Vitnesses:

J. H. fBURmDc-E, \V. II. BURRIDGE.

